[House Report 105-328]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
105th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 105-328
_______________________________________________________________________
MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS WILDERNESS AND ERNEST F. COE VISITOR CENTER,
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
_______
October 21, 1997.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______________________________________________________________________
Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 136]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 136) to amend the National Parks and Recreation Act of
1978 to designate the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness and
to amend the Everglades National Park Protection and Expansion
Act of 1989 to designate the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center,
having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an
amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu
thereof the following:
SECTION 1. MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS WILDERNESS AND ERNEST F. COE
VISITOR CENTER, EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) Marjory Stoneman Douglas, through her book, ``The
Everglades: River of Grass'' (1947), defined the Everglades for
the American people and for the world. Her book was the first
to stimulate widespread understanding of the Everglades
ecosystem and ultimately served to awaken the desire to restore
its health.
(2) In her 107th year, Mrs. Douglas is the sole surviving
member of the original group of people who devoted decades of
selfless effort to establish Everglades National Park.
(3) When the water supply and ecology of the Everglades, both
within and outside the park, became threatened by drainage and
development, Mrs. Douglas dedicated the balance of her life to
the defense of the Everglades through extraordinary personal
effort and by inspiring countless other people to take action.
(4) For these and many other accomplishments, the President
awarded Mrs. Douglas the Medal of Freedom on Earth Day, 1994.
(5) Ernest F. Coe (1886-1951) was a leader in the creation of
Everglades National Park. He organized the Tropic Everglades
National Park Association in 1928 and was widely regarded as
the ``Father of Everglades National Park''.
(6) As a landscape architect, Mr. Coe's vision for the park
recognized the need to protect south Florida's diverse wildlife
and their habitats for future generations. His original park
proposal included lands and waters subsequently protected
within Everglades National Park, the Big Cypress National
Preserve, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
(7) Mr. Coe's leadership, selfless devotion, and commitment
to achieving this vision culminated in the authorization of
Everglades National Park by Congress in 1934. Afterwards, Mr.
Coe fought tirelessly and lobbied strenuously for establishment
of the park, finally realizing his dream in 1947. He
accomplished much of this work at his own expense, which
dramatically demonstrated his commitment to establishment of
the park.
(b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to commemorate the
vision, leadership, and enduring contributions of Marjory Stoneman
Douglas and Ernest F. Coe in the protection of the Everglades and the
establishment of Everglades National Park.
(c) Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness.--
(1) Redesignation.--Section 401(3) of the National Parks and
Recreation Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-625; 92 Stat. 3490; 16
U.S.C. 1132 note) is amended by striking out ``to be known as
the Everglades Wilderness'' and inserting ``to be known as the
Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness to commemorate the vision
and leadership shown by Mrs. Douglas in the protection of the
Everglades and the establishment of Everglades National Park''.
(2) Notice of redesignation.--As part of the redesignation of
the ``Everglades Wilderness'' as the ``Marjory Stoneman Douglas
Wilderness'' under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Interior
shall provide such notification of the redesignation by signs,
materials, maps, markers, interpretive programs, and other
means (including changes in existing signs, materials, maps,
and markers) as will adequately inform the public of the
redesignation of the wilderness area and the reasons therefor.
(3) References.--Any reference in any law, regulation,
document, record, map, or other paper of the United States to
the ``Everglades Wilderness'' shall be considered to be a
reference to ``Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness''.
(d) Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center.--
(1) Designation.--Section 103 of the Everglades National Park
Protection and Expansion Act of 1989 (16 U.S.C. 410r-7) is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(f) Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center.--Upon completion of construction
of the main visitor center facility at the headquarters of Everglades
National Park, the Secretary of the Interior shall designate the
visitor center facility as `The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center' to
commemorate the vision and leadership shown by Mr. Coe in the
establishment and protection of Everglades National Park.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Subsection (e) of such section is
amended by striking ``Visitor Center'' and inserting ``Marjory
Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center''.
(3) Technical correction.--Subsection (c)(2) of such section
is amended by striking ``personnally-owned'' and inserting
``personally-owned''.
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of H.R. 136 is to amend the National Parks and
Recreation Act of 1978 to designate the Marjory Stoneman
Douglas Wilderness and to amend the Everglades National Park
Protection and Expansion Act of 1989 to designate the Ernest F.
Coe Visitor Center.
Background and Need for Legislation
H.R. 136 designates approximately 1.3 million acres of
existing wilderness within the Everglades National Park as the
``Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness,'' and would name a
visitor center in Everglades City after Mrs. Douglas as well as
name the recently completed main visitor center at Everglades
National Park headquarters as ``The Ernest F. Coe Visitor
Center.''
Everglades National Park was dedicated in 1947 after
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed legislation in 1934,
authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to select an area for
the site of the park. Everglades National Park consists of 1.5
million acres and is known for its diverse wildlife and unusual
wetland habitat. The Everglades' wilderness is the largest
subtropical wilderness in the continental United States. The
Everglades National Park has been designated a World Heritage
Site, a Wetland of International Significance, and a Biosphere
Reserve in recognition of its significance.
The two individuals commemorated in H.R. 136 were
instrumental in the events leading to the establishment of the
Everglades National Park. In the years following the creation
of the park, Mrs. Douglas and Mr. Coe continued to make
significant contributions to the protection of the Everglades.
In 1947, Mrs. Douglas published her landmark book on
Florida's largest wetland ecosystem, ``The Everglades: River of
Grass,'' which increased public awareness about the Everglades
and resulted in national support for the establishment of
Everglades National Park. Mrs. Douglas, who celebrated her
107th birthday on April 6, 1997, has dedicated her entire life
to the Everglades. In 1994, President Clinton awarded her the
Medal of Freedom (America's highest civilian honor) in
recognition of her achievements on behalf of the Everglades.
In 1928, Mr. Coe organized the Tropical Everglades National
Park Association, an organization dedicated solely to the
creation of a south Florida national park, and served as its
first executive secretary. Mr. Coe, a landscape architect,
worked tirelessly for the next two decades to assure
establishment of the Everglades National Park. His outstanding
contributions earned him the recognition as ``The Father of
Everglades National Park.'' Mr. Coe died in 1951.
Committee Action
H.R. 136 was introduced on January 7, 1997, by Congressman
Peter Deutsch (D-FL) and Congressman Porter J. Goss (R-FL). The
bill was referred to the Committee on Resources, and within the
Committee to the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public
Lands. On April 10, 1997, the Subcommittee held a hearing on
H.R. 136, where testimony was unanimous in support of the bill.
The Administration strongly supports passage of H.R. 136. On
July 31, 1997, the Subcommittee met to mark up H.R. 136. An
amendment to indicate that Mrs. Douglas was now 107 years old
was offered by Congressman James V. Hansen (R-UT), and adopted
by voice vote. The bill was then ordered favorably reported to
the Full Committee by voice vote. On September 10, 1997, the
Full Resources Committee met to consider H.R. 136. No further
amendments were offered, and the bill, as amended, was then
ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by
voice vote.
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
With respect to the requirements of clause 2(l)(3) of rule
XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and clause
2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives,
the Committee on Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
Constitutional Authority Statement
Article I, section 8, and article IV, section 3 of the
Constitution of the United States grant Congress the authority
to enact H.R. 136.
Cost of the Legislation
Clause 7(a) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the
Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out
H.R. 136. However, clause 7(d) of that Rule provides that this
requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in
its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office
under section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
Compliance With House Rule XI
1. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(B) of
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, H.R.
136 does not contain any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
2. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(D) of
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee has received no report of oversight findings and
recommendations from the Committee on Government Reform and
Oversight on the subject of H.R. 136.
3. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(C) of
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the
Committee has received the following cost estimate for H.R. 136
from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washingotn, DC, September 18, 1997.
Hon. Don Young,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 136, a bill to
amend the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 to
designate the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness and to amend
the Everglades National Park Protection and Expansion Act of
1989 to designate the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis.
Sincerely,
James L. Blum
(For June E. O'Neill, Director).
Enclosure.
H.R. 136--A bill to amend the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978
to designate the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness and to
amend the Everglades National Park Protection and Expansion Act
of 1989 to designate the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center
H.R. 136 would redesignate the Everglades Wilderness in
Florida as the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness. The
Secretary of the Interior would be required to notify the
public of the change by creating or modifying signs, maps, and
other materials. The legislation also would name the new
visitor facility at the Everglades National Park the Ernest F.
Coe Visitor Center.
CBO estimates that the cost to the federal government of
implementing H.R. 136--primarily by revising existing signs and
other materials--would be negligible. The legislation would not
affect direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go
procedures would not apply. H.R. 136 contains no private-sector
or intergovernmental mandates as defined in the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 and would not affect the budgets of
state, local, or tribal governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis.
The estimate was approved by Robert A. Sunshine, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
Compliance With Public Law 104-4
H.R. 136 contains no unfunded mandates.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3 of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the
bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed
to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is
printed in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed
is shown in roman):
SECTION 401 OF THE NATIONAL PARKS AND RECREATION ACT OF 1978
designation of areas
Sec. 401. The following lands are hereby designated as
wilderness in accordance with section 3(c) of the Wilderness
Act (78 Stat. 890; 16 U.S.C. 1132(c)), and shall be
administered by the Secretary in accordance with the applicable
provisions of the Wilderness Act:
(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
(3) Everglades National Park, Florida, wilderness
comprising approximately one million two hundred and
ninety-six thousand five hundred acres and potential
wilderness additions comprising approximately eighty-
one thousand nine hundred acres, depicted on a map
entitled ``Wilderness Plan, Everglades National Park,
Florida'', numbered 160-20,011 and dated June 1974, [to
be known as the Everglades Wilderness] to be known as
the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness to commemorate
the vision and leadership shown by Mrs. Douglas in the
protection of the Everglades and the establishment of
Everglades National Park.
* * * * * * *
----------
SECTION 103 OF THE EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK PROTECTION AND EXPANSION
ACT OF 1989
SEC. 103. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) * * *
* * * * * * *
(c) Protection of Flora and Fauna.--The park shall be closed
to the operation of airboats--
(1) except as provided in subsection (d); and
(2) except that within a limited capacity and on
designated routes within the addition, owners of record
of registered airboats in use within the addition as of
January 1, 1989, shall be issued nontransferable,
nonrenewable permits, for their individual lifetimes,
to operate [personnally-owned] personally-owned
airboats for noncommercial use in accordance with rules
prescribed by the Secretary to determine ownership and
registration, establish uses, permit conditions, and
penalties, and to protect the biological resources of
the area.
* * * * * * *
(e) [Visitor Center] Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor
Center.--The Secretary is authorized and directed to expedite
the construction of the visitor center facility at Everglades
City, Florida, as described in the Development Concept Plan,
Gulf Coast, dated February 1989, and upon construction shall
designate the visitor center facility as ``The Marjory Stoneman
Douglas Center'' in commemoration of the vision and leadership
shown by Mrs. Douglas in the protection of the Everglades and
Everglades National Park.
(f) Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center.--Upon completion of
construction of the main visitor center facility at the
headquarters of Everglades National Park, the Secretary of the
Interior shall designate the visitor center facility as ``The
Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center'' to commemorate the vision and
leadership shown by Mr. Coe in the establishment and protection
of Everglades National Park.